Dataset from Investigating the Effectiveness of COVID-19 Testing Choices, Community Engagement, and Culturally-Embedded mHealth Literacy Delivery in a Medically-Underserved, Community-Based Sample

Background: This study evaluated whether a person-centered rapid COVID-19 testing intervention, paired with a co-created mHealth COVID-19 Literacy and Outreach Suite of apps and videos, increased acceptance, access, reach, uptake, and impact of testing at UI Health and across 14 Federally Qualified Health Center practice sites. The study aimed to understand how social, ethical, economic, and behavioral factors shaped testing behaviors and how participant involvement in message co-creation influenced outcomes.

Materials/Methods: The study used sentinel and community-based epidemiological surveillance and participatory research methods. Participants received either at-home swab-and-send testing or on-site point-of-care testing, along with access to mHealth apps to track symptoms, build COVID-19 knowledge, and support self-management. Viral load was analyzed by PCR at infection onset and after exposure to assess viral dynamics. NIH PhenX self-report measures captured testing uptake, retesting, time-to-diagnosis, COVID-19 knowledge, healthcare access and seeking, disclosure, adherence, and isolation and infection control behaviors. A repeated measures pre-post design was used with phone interviews on Day 1 and Day 28. Three groups were recruited: patients from the 14 practice sites, individuals identified through contact tracing, and community members responding to study ads and mHealth outreach. Data from biological samples, interviews, and app use were shared with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Outcome/Impact: The intended impact was to reduce COVID-19 transmission through improved testing access, earlier diagnosis, enhanced contact tracing, and increased capacity for participants to make informed health decisions.